A Systemic Functional Analysis on Texts Written by ESL Learners, and A Text on Daily English Canada Newspaper, and Its Implication for English Teaching and Learning Improvement

Abstract

This study aims to reveal characteristics of English language produced by English as Second Language (ESL) Learners in the form of written text. By using a theme and rheme analysis. Within the Systemic Functional Analysis Framework, the writer compared the features of English language utilized by ESL learners and those by native proficient writer of an English Newspaper called English Daily Cananda for their textual meaning. The Analysis comprises analysis of different aspects of language use in a written text which include the analysis of thematic structure, thematic development, and textual cohesion. The result of the analysis shows the distinctive characteristics amongst the three texts from which teachers of English as Second language classes can draw a conclusion in order to design a lesson plan which is more suitable for the students. It is expected that this analysis can provide a way of understanding the limitation of the resources available in students’ mind, and whether or not the students successfully utilize these resources for social purpose, thus gives contribution and implication towards the future direction of the English as Second Language teaching and learning.